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Showbiz Tonight
Conrad Murray Cover-Up?; Split Gone Wild?; Special Edition: Showbiz Reality Secrets
Aired September 30, 2011 - 23:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
A.J. HAMMER, HOST: Big news breaking tonight - Conrad cover-up? Disturbing new revelations about whether Michael Jackson`s doctor tried to cover up his alleged involvement in Michael Jackson`s death.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He reached Denver and grabbed a handful of vials and then he reached out to me and said, "Here, put this in a bag."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, is Conrad cornered? Split gone wild? Brand-new questions about whether Demi and Ashton are done. The bizarre tweets. The rampant reports the Kutchers are finished. The SHOWBIZ Flashpoint tonight - should Ashton and Demi squash the rumors for good?
SHOWBIZ reality secrets. Kim Kardashian, The Situation making mind- boggling amounts of money.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JO PIAZZA, ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST: "Jersey Shore" arranged $25,000 just for them to show up at a club.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Tonight, a SHOWBIZ special report - the remarkable reports behind the multimillion-dollar reality stars.
TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now.
(MUSIC)
Hello, I`m A.J. Hammer in New York with big news breaking tonight, a Conrad cover-up? Did Michael Jackson`s doctor, Conrad Murray, tried to cover up that he might have given Michael the drug that led to his death?
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can now reveal that is the disturbing early story that is coming together in Murray`s trial. And in dramatic testimony seen live today on HLN this afternoon, one of the paramedics who responded to the 911 call the day Michael died revealed that Conrad was anything but cool and controlled when they got there. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did Dr. Murray identify himself as the patient`s doctor when you entered?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, he did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, describe Dr. Murray`s demeanor, please.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frantic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: But just why was he so frantic? Was it because of a possible cover-up? SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is bringing you the startling and disturbing new revelations that seem to say that just what might have happened.
With me tonight from the L.A. courthouse, defense attorney, Debra Opri. Also with me from Los Angeles, criminal defense attorney, Midwin Charles.
All right. So there were brand-new details coming fast and furious today from the witness stand about Michael`s final moments from that paramedic who responded to the 911 call.
Let`s watch together what he revealed about the chilling moment when he asked Dr. Murray basically, "What the heck happened here?"
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I asked what his underlying health condition was and he did not respond. I asked again what his underlying health condition was. He did not respond. And then I think it was the third time he said nothing, nothing. He has nothing. And simply, that did not add up to me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why is that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Doctor is in the house, IV hooked up to the patient - it didn`t seem normal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. I`m no paramedic. It doesn`t seem normal to me. You heard the paramedic say it didn`t add to him. He`s got nearly 30 years of experience.
That leads to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint - did Dr. Conrad Murray engage in a frantic cover-up? Debra Opri, let me start with you. What do you think?
DEBRA OPRI, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Absolutely. Unfortunately, the doctor was Dr. Murray and he had to take control as the treating physician on the scene. In fact, he did not.
To me, it was a criminal cover-up because he was taking away evidence from the scene, not answering truthful questions as to what was in Michael`s system, what he had administered to him.
And in fact, he was telling people to start putting things in paper bags four times over. This is very disturbing because, in the end, this was a licensed credentialed doctor who, at the scene of a crime, was thinking about himself rather than Michael, who, for all intents and purposes, had probably been dead for quite a while by now.
HAMMER: You know, and I was watching this today thinking, how in the world is this possibly defensible if this is in fact what happened.
OPRI: It`s not.
HAMMER: Midwin, let me go to you. Let me put on your criminal defense hat right now.
MIDWIN CHARLES, ATTORNEY, MIDWIN CHARLES AND ASSOCIATES: You got it.
HAMMER: Does this to you look like a man engaged in a cover-up? Or could there be another reasonable explanation for why he never told the paramedics why Michael was so medicated and what all that stuff was doing there?
CHARLES: Well, the whole cover-up idea is the perspective of the prosecution, based on the facts that we`ve seen so far. But the defense is probably going to argue that - remember, this is a doctor who worked for someone who was high profile, very wealthy, and above all, guarded his privacy.
Remember, even the security guards had only been in the house once or twice for the months that they worked for him. So they are probably going to argue that he was removing these things and not disclosing fully what Michael was on because that`s how Michael would have wanted it.
That`s the only way that I can see them explaining this. I mean, listen, I agree with Debra. It looks bad, but that`s one of the things that I think the defense can do here.
HAMMER: Yes.
OPRI: Doctor, first and foremost -
HAMMER: From a layman`s standpoint, I`m looking at this thinking, I don`t care who it is. If somebody`s in the room dying, all bets are off. You need information. I`m going to give it to you. But again -
CHARLES: Well, A.J., that`s the thing. Everybody is saying that he was probably already dead.
OPRI: But Midwin, he was a doctor. He was a doctor.
CHARLES: I agree with you. I agree with you.
HAMMER: Yes. And that really should be the - that should be the bottom line. I do see - you know, I did ask Midwin - to be fair, I asked for your defense standpoint on it and I can see the point that you`re making which the defense will likely try to make here.
There was more evidence of a possible cover-up coming today in the courtroom when Michael Jackson`s logistics chief - this is Alberto Alvarez. He took the stand.
And the prosecution is claiming that before Jackson`s staff dialed 911, Dr. Murray asked Alvarez to clean up drug vials scattered near Michael`s nightstand. This was amazing to me. Watch what Alvarez revealed in court today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he then instruct you to take some vials or do something with some vials?
ALBERTO ALVAREZ, MICHAEL JACKSON`S LOGISTICS DIRECTOR: Yes. While I was standing at the foot of the bed, he reached over and grabbed a handful of vials. And then, he reached out to me and said to me, "Here, put these in the bag."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What were the exact words he said when he had these vials in his hand and he was reaching them out to you?
ALVAREZ: He said, "Put these in a bag."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you grab a bag?
ALVAREZ: I did. I looked towards my right and there was a plastic bag sitting on top of a chair. And so I proceeded to get the bag and I opened it. And he placed the vials in the bag.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Again, this could be looked at as truly damming testimony here, Alvarez testifying that he thought, in all the chaos, that Murray wanted the vials cleaned up initially so he could take them to the hospital.
But of course, that never happened. Debra, to our Conrad cover-up question number one, just how much do you think Dr. Murray really knew about Michael Jackson`s overall health?
OPRI: If he didn`t know it and wasn`t willing to know it - he had to know it. He was his hired treating physician. The most intriguing question that I haven`t had anyone speaking about so far during this trial or by the media is, why didn`t Dr. Conrad Murray have a 24-hour on-call nurse with him?
Every doctor in this environment would. Why was he going solo? Why? That`s a question that we have to ask that goes to the gross negligence allegation, and it`s something that we should all be addressing right now. Why was he a solo doctor on that set of Michael Jackson`s life?
HAMMER: It does seem a reasonable question considering the level of care and what was involved in what Michael was receiving and the kinds of treatment that he was receiving.
OPRI: Yes.
HAMMER: I can tell you that every single witness has testified about being there the day that Michael Jackson died said that Murray was in a pure panic before paramedics arrived.
OPRI: Unprofessional.
HAMMER: And that leads to Conrad cover-up question number two, exactly when did Conrad Murray know Michael Jackson was in danger of dying? Midwin, are you convinced at all he had no clue Michael was in danger until he discovered lifeless body? I can`t imagine that.
CHARLES: I do believe that and you can tell this by his actions that, apparently, there was a phone call that came in or he was talking on the phone with one of his girlfriends.
And that was around 11:51 in that morning. And she said the phone just went dead. He just stopped responding. He probably discovered at that point that Michael Jackson was already dead. Forget in distress, but already dead.
HAMMER: Debra Opri, let me ask you this -
OPRI: But isn`t the -
HAMMER: Go ahead.
OPRI: Isn`t the answer to the question really he knew he should have known Michael Jackson`s life was in danger when he was administering Propofol in a home without a 24-hour watch?
CHARLES: Of course.
OPRI: Isn`t that the answer to the question?
CHARLES: Of course. Of course.
(CROSS TALK)
OPRI: I think he should not have engaged in this at all. I think we already know that. I think everybody knows that. This is -
(CROSS TALK)
But the element of gross negligence has already been met by his own conduct as observed by the witnesses and the actions he was taking. Point blank.
CHARLES: I agree.
OPRI: Done deal.
HAMMER: All right. We do have to leave it there, but I appreciate your insight on this. Debra Opri, Midwin Charles, thank you both.
So in the middle of the day of the courtroom drama, half the Jackson family is still helping to plan that M.J. tribute that`s going on next week.
Now, I want to hear from you about this. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll - Michael Jackson Tribute Concert. What do you think? Is it OK for the concert to take place during the M.J. death trial?
Well, let me know your vote at CNN.com/ShowbizTonight. E-mail me, too. The address is showbiztonight@cnn.com.
Got to move on now to a possible split gone wild. Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher`s split reports still rampant. And their bizarre tweets are sparking the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT Flashpoint, should Ashton and Demi just squash the rumors for good?
Tonight, secrets behind the multimillion-dollar paychecks for reality stars. I`m talking about the Kardashians, The Situation. I need to know, how the heck are they making all that cash?
Plus, a SHOWBIZ reality newsmaker interview with "Dancing with the Stars`" Kristin Cavallari. She`s right here with behind-the-scenes secrets in a must-see reality tell-all.
And it`s matchmaker versus matchmaker tonight. The millionaire matchmaker says great girls are dumb in love. Come on. That can`t be true. Another TV matchmaker has something to say about that. A he-said, she-said debate not to be missed, next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
Now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Hugh Hefner`s ex-fiancee puts engagement ring up for auction. LeAnn Rimes talks to Ellen DeGeneres about the media obsession with her weight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST, "THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW": How do you feel about what they say about your weight?
LEANN RIMES, SINGER: You know, I`ve kind of gotten over when it comes to how I feel about myself. Like you said, these are diseases and people are using them as name-calling and as almost bullying.
DEGENERES: You`re not anorexic in any way or bulimic at all?
RIMES: No, I am not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York. Tonight, hey, Demi and Ashton, stop tweeting around the bush, would you already?
There are brand-new developments today about all of the buzz that Demi and Ashton are splitting up. You know, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher. These two set the Twitter-verse on fire sending out these vaguely-written tweets that really seem to point to trouble in their marriage.
So I`m wondering, why don`t they just clear things up once and for all? That brings us to our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint tonight - should Ashton and Demi squash the news for good?
And with me right now, the master matchmakers, Steve Ward, who returns to VH1 on Sunday to brand-new installment of his hit series, "Tough Love Miami." You have to check it out. Great to have you here, Steve.
STEVE WARD, MASTER MATCHMAKER, "TOUGH LOVE MIAMI": Glad to be here.
HAMMER: And perfect timing with the Demi and Ashton stuff that`s going on. Big buzz about what is happening today everywhere. A lot of pieces to the puzzle keep popping up.
Let me run them down for you. Ashton was seen late yesterday wearing his wedding ring. Today, we`re hearing reports that Ashton is no longer following his own wife on Twitter. So it`s almost like these guys invented Twitter.
Meanwhile, you have Demi back following her husband on Twitter after recently stopping. So Steve, let me cut right to the chase with our SHOWBIZ Flashpoint. Do they need to quit playing around and just squash all the rumors once and for all?
WARD: Listen, if they don`t knock it off, I`m going to make them both sit in a corner. They are like grown children with tweeting and following me and stop following and - I mean, what married couple wants to put their entire relationship out in the public eye by choice?
HAMMER: Right.
WARD: And sit there and squabble in front of everyone?
HAMMER: But seeing that they do put everything out there, I`m surprised that they haven`t addressed the reality of what`s going on. I`m almost thinking that they`re punking us here, letting this play out like some social experiment.
WARD: Well, I think it`s going to come - it`s going to come to a head naturally once, you know, the truth - facts come to light. And I don`t know if there`s going to be a smoking condom or anything like that. But if there is going to be proof that something took place, then, he has going to deal with it.
HAMMER: Yes. The old smoking kind of - you know, I`ve always liked these two together. I actually always thought they would work despite the odds being stacked against them. As a pro-matchmaker, so good at what you do, would you put these guys together?
WARD: No. In fact, this relationship, in and of itself has become the bane of my existence, because every single woman that comes to me at "Master Matchmakers" - "Oh, can I meet a guy? Match me with someone younger than me. I usually date younger men."
And I`m like, "You`re not Demi Moore." So I was a skeptic from the beginning. I really didn`t think it was going to last. I thought, eventually, he`s going to want to start a family. And I believe that when they first got together, they tried having kids.
HAMMER: So if there was truth to this, it wouldn`t shock you. All right. I want to move on to the matchmaker he said/she said, because I`m dying to hear what you have to say about Patti Stanger, who, quite frankly, I think made some pretty dumb comments about gay men and Jewish men and start women.
Here`s what she said to a viewer who called in to the Bravo show, "Watch What Happens Live."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATTI STANGER, MILLIONAIRE MATCHMAKER: Are you straight or gay?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gay.
STANGER: OK. Well, then you`re OK. It`s grinder for you. You go on grinder. You`ll have a great time.
ANDY COHEN, HOST, "WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE": Wait. Hold on. So the gays can have open relationships?
STANGER: There is no curbing the gay. Have you seen the "Madison" episode? I mean, seriously, gay - you know, I try to curb you people and you just don`t - I decided to throw in the towel and do what you want. But when you find the right person, you will know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I mean, I couldn`t believe she said this, Steve. But for the he said of this matchmaker he said/she said, how do you react to that as a matchmaker?
WARD: Well - I mean, I guess I don`t know. I thought it was common sense. You don`t refer to any group of individuals as "you, people."
I mean, I think that`s pretty much the most bigoted expression that you could possibly make. So I don`t think there`s any room for bigotry in matchmaking.
HAMMER: And she also advised women to dumb it down if they want to date more. Would you ever advise your clients to do that?
WARD: That`s probably about the most misogynistic thing I have ever heard. I mean, we live in a really egalitarian society nowadays. Or at least, people like me would like to think so.
I match-make men and women, and whoever the client is, is the person that I`m working for. I never would tell a woman that she needs to dumb it down in order to attract the guy that she wants to be with.
HAMMER: Yes. I`m no matchmaker, but if you can`t be yourself, then it isn`t going to work.
WARD: It isn`t going to work.
HAMMER: All right. Steve great to see you. I do appreciate your insight in all of this. Make sure you check out Steve Ward on his new season of "Tough Love Miami" on VH1.
Now, I need to move on because calls are pouring into the "Showbiz on Call" phone lines about the Michael Jackson death trial. We`re wondering, what would it be like if M.J. were alive today?
Well, Ashley from North Carolina believes he`ll be the greatest.
ASHLEY, CALLER FROM NORTH CAROLINA: Everybody`s wanting to know how would it be if he was still alive? I think Michael Jackson would still be a superstar because he was born to hit the stage.
"This is It" is proving it all that he still had it, so I think he still had it. And for anyone to think that he wouldn`t have been able to pull off those shows, as his brother said, I mean, they have done a lot more be that that.
Let`s give him the credit and he would still be the superstar. He would be the king of pop. There`s no one out there that could outdo him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Ashley, thank you for your call. We`d love to hear from you at "Showbiz on Call." The lines are always open at 1-888-SBT- BUZZ; 1-888-728-2899.
Tonight, keeping up with the cash. The Kardashians, the cast of "Jersey Shore" - these guys are making millions. But how? Well, tonight, we`ve got a SHOWBIZ special report you cannot miss - the remarkable secrets behind the multimillion-dollar reality stars.
And more big reality secrets revealed. I`ve got the "Carfellas" right here with their eight-cylinder secrets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what your problem is? You (EXPLETIVE DELETED) instead of your head.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can do this on my own so I could have a nice, pleasurable drive by myself instead of your bulk (EXPLETIVE DELETED) in the passenger seat busting my balls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: That is our big guys, big cars, and big secrets. "Carfellas" revealing their reality secrets in a turbo-charged SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And now, the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Bravo not commenting about Jacqueline Luarita quitting "The Real Housewives of N.J." Sneak peek: Taylor Swift`s "Wonderstruck" fragrance commercial shoot.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TAYLOR SWIFT, SINGER: It`s a spark, a connection, rush of something new. And if you`ve been struck, you`ll never be the same again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman," as a prostitute and I would never, ever do that to my little girl. Ever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. That`s four-year-old "Toddlers and Tiaras" star, Paisley Dickey, strutting around in a "Pretty Woman" outfit that had parents around the country outraged.
Well, now, Paisley`s mother is telling "Radar Online" that they are donating that outfit to be auctioned off to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Well, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT reached out to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to confirm the reports. They are telling us something a little different. Listen to this, "We have not been contacted by anyone regarding this proposed auction. We have not authorized our names to be used for it nor would we be likely to do so."
There you go. Moving on to big Osbourne engagement news today. One of Ozzy Osbourne`s kids is about to say "I do." LeAnn Rimes speaks out about her relationship mistakes. And La Toya Jackson returns to the stage for Michael. We`ve got it all in "The Buzz Today."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) La Toya`s singing surprise. La Toya Jackson plans to come out of retirement and sing live at the Michael Jackson tribute concert in Wales next month. After hanging up the mike some 20 years ago, La Toya will perform alongside some singing heavy-hitters as Christina Aguilera and Black Eyed Peas.
LeAnn Rimes big laugh. LeAnn Rimes says that she laughs off all of the lies she reads about her life with husband Eddie Cibrian.
Rimes told Ellen DeGeneres that she and Cibrian made mistakes when their romance started. Both were married to other people, but Rimes says, now, they just try to rise above all the wild reports.
RIMES: You have to really take the high road a lot of times when you want to sit on a mountain and scream like, "Why are you saying this?"
HAMMER: An Osbourne wedding. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT confirms Ozzy Osbourne`s son, Jack, is engaged to aspiring actress, Lisa Stelly. Jack just released his first documentary on his rocker dad, "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne." No word on a date for the wedding just yet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: Jack? Moving now to the SHOWBIZ lineup - here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT.
Cashing in on reality. The Kardashians, The Situation - yes, they are making millions, but how much? Tonight, it`s a SHOWBIZ special report, the remarkable secrets behind the multimillion-dollar reality stars.
Plus, a reality secrets SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview. "Dancing with the Stars`" Kristin Cavallari is right here and she`s revealing her own reality TV secrets. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views.
And this is the "SHOWBIZ News Ticker" - these are more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight.
TEXT: Mike Myers becomes a dad to a baby boy named Spike. Fourteen-year- old Brooklyn rapper wows judges on "The X Factor."
(MUSIC)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HAMMER: Now, on a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, the startling secrets behind cashing in on reality TV. Kim Kardashian, The Situation - so how do they make mind-boggling amounts of money anyway?
Kristin Cavallari tells all. From "The Hills" to "Dancing with the Stars," Kristin is right here and she is revealing her reality TV secrets.
Big cars, big guys, big secrets. The stars of "Carfellas" on high-octane drama on and off screen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what your problem is? You (EXPLETIVE DELETED) instead of your head.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can do this on my own so I could have a nice, pleasurable drive by myself instead of your bulk (EXPLETIVE DELETED) in the passenger seat busting my balls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: The "Carfellas" are right here and they are all revved up for their SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
"Bachelor" bombshells. Former contestant Bob Guiney uncovers the real secrets to making "Bachelor" romance magic.
ANNOUNCER: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: Hello. I`m A.J. Hammer tonight in New York. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, SHOWBIZ reality secrets. We reveal the reality behind reality TV shows.
And tonight, cashing in. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has uncovered the truth behind the remarkable amount of money that stars make for letting their reality get captured on camera.
Don`t even try keeping up with the money the Kardashians are cashing in on. Let me tell you, the best situation The Situation ever got into was agreeing to do "Jersey Shore."
Tonight, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT can tell you that while we may laugh at these reality stars, they are laughing all the way to the bank.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over) On "Jersey Shore," the gang is forced to work at a pizzeria.
NICOLE "SNOOKI" POLIZZI, REALITY TV STAR, "JERSEY SHORE": How am I (EXPLETIVE DELETED) supposed to know how to cook a pizza.
HAMMER: But make no mistake, this group of would-be pizza makers is rolling in dough of another kind.
PIAZZA: The Situation, Snooki - they are in the $3 million to $5 million annual salary range.
HAMMER: Yes. The Situation is a multimillionaire. Kind of makes you want to bang your head against the wall, doesn`t it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stop. Stop.
HAMMER: Kim Kardashian may cry her eyes out when she loses a $75,000 earring. But trust us, she can afford it. She reportedly made $16 million last year.
How do these reality show stars get so rich? We`ll tell you one thing - it isn`t from their TV salaries. That`s just a drop in the bucket.
Now, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT finally reveals the top secret ways reality stars cash in. One way reality stars cash in, the super secret endorsement.
PIAZZA: You can definitely make around six figures, just from secret endorsement deals.
HAMMER: Celebrity journalist Jo Piazza, the author of "Celebrity, Inc.," where Spencer Pratt and other celebs shared some of their super secret moneymaking ways. An old favorite is the secret endorsement deal.
PIAZZA: They would just sip a can of soda in public or wear a certain jogging sneaker when they were running in Malibu and they would get paid just for doing that.
HAMMER: Pratt says brands would pay and his wife, Heidi Montag, $10,000 for each time the paparazzi snapped them using, drinking or wearing their products in public.
PIAZZA: Once you know about it, then you`re going to see it all the time. You`re going to be like, "Why is that celebrity drinking that brand of soda or that kind of coffee or wearing that really ugly t-shirt?" If it`s not ugly, they are probably getting paid for it.
HAMMER: Another way reality stars cash in, the staged photo-op.
PIAZZA: They call the photographer. They tell them, "Look, I`m going to In and Out burger today. Why don`t you take a few snapshots of me?"
That photographer exclusive photos of them and then sell these to magazines. Then the fee is split between the photo agency and the reality star. So they are making maybe $10,000 for a picture.
HAMMER: And a fun way for reality stars to cash in, partying for profit.
PIAZZA: Appearance fees with someone in the "Jersey Shore" range started around $25,000 just for them to show up at a club, a restaurant, a casino.
HAMMER: The current queens of the staged party game, the Kardashian sisters.
PIAZZA: They are constantly in the six figures, typically higher.
HAMMER: And you won`t believe another way some reality stars cash in - tweeting for cash, where stars endorse products on Twitter. Kardashians rule this game as well.
PIAZZA: Kim makes approximately $10,000 per tweet, just to send out that she likes certain brands.
HAMMER: So if you`re a top tier reality star and you send out two tweets a week, stage a paparazzi photo op every other month and go clubbing once a month - something the "jersey shore" gang can do without breaking a sweat - you can pull in more than $1 million dollars alone.
Add in various endorsements, book deals and various business ventures, and you, too, can make the estimated $5 million a year Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino and Lauren Conrad make.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All you care about is money.
HAMMER: Or if you`re really lucky, the $65 million the Kardashian empire reportedly hauled in last year. Or if you`re crazy lucky, the $120 million ex "Real Housewives of New York" Bethenny Frankel made when she sold her skinny girl brand.
PIAZZA: I think that reality stars realize that their (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of fame is pretty small.
HAMMER: Celebrity journalist, Jo Piazza, tells SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, there`s one thing a reality star needs to be, and that`s realistic, especially when it comes to their earning potential.
PIAZZA: A good reality star has a run of maybe two to three years and they want to milk that cash cow for all that its worth as fast as they possibly can.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HAMMER: So I`m watching that and I`m thinking that reality TV superstardom is perhaps one of the few recession-proof gigs, if you can get it right.
And right now, I am thrilled to have a reality veteran joining me right now from Hollywood. It`s Kristin Cavallari. Kristin is currently fighting for the coveted mirror ball trophy on "Dancing with the Stars." Great to see you, Kristin. Might I add, you look absolutely lovely tonight.
KRISTIN CAVALLARI, REALITY TV STAR: Oh, thank you.
HAMMER: You`re welcome. So I`m thinking if there is anybody who has really mastered the art of making a successful career out of and really cashing in on being a successful reality show star, it is you.
You starred on two MTV shows, of course. We know you`re from "The Hills" and "Laguna Beach." Now, we get to see you dancing on "Dancing with the Stars." So I say well done. I`ve got to get your take on what the secret is for cashing in on reality TV.
CAVALLARI: I mean, I don`t know. I guess I would just say that you have to have a strong personality. And you know, this is one of the times when someone who is shy probably won`t shine.
You really just kind of have to bring it. I mean, when I did "Laguna Beach," how I got it was we filled out this 20-page packet. And some of the questions were, you know, "Who do you think is going to be prom queen?"
And I wrote things like, I don`t know and I don`t care as long as it`s Lauren Conrad. So I knew what I was doing. And I knew I was - you know, I was bringing drama to it.
HAMMER: Yes, you`ve got to step up a little bit, because - I don`t know. Tell me if I`m wrong. I don`t get the impression you`re actually as dramatic as you may appear to be sometimes on television.
CAVALLARI: Not at all. Not at all. You know, it`s all fun and games for the camera.
HAMMER: And here`s the thing, and I think you certainly know this to be true. A lot of people out there get bent out of shape that reality show stars make so much darn money.
I always say, hey, you know what? This is capitalism at work. But why do you think it is, Kristin, that it ticks so many people off that you reality stars do so well?
CAVALLARI: Well, I mean, I think that a lot of people don`t think that we`re actually working, which isn`t the case. I mean, "The Hills" is shot the exact same way as a movie or a TV show.
You know, we shot three scenes a day. We did changes and talked about specific things. So you know, it is work. But I can see where real actors, for example, maybe can get a little upset because it is - the actors put in a ton of hard work to get where they are.
And you know, we don`t have to memorize an actual script, which makes it not as hard I guess. But we still put in a lot of work.
HAMMER: And to be clear, then, you know, it`s not as simple as just being yourself while the cameras roll, or in the case of some reality stars, just acting like a complete idiot and getting paid for it?
CAVALLARI: Not in my case. "Laguna Beach" and "The Hills" were two completely different than some reality TV shows. But "The Hills" - it was shot exactly like a movie. So I mean, you know, I put in a lot of work, too.
HAMMER: Yes. Well, and now it has paid off that you`re doing "Dancing with the Stars." Of course, "The Hills" was the last show that you did before "Dancing." That lasted for four years.
And had this amazing Hollywood ending that showed us exactly how real it was. Let`s watch that.
(MUSIC)
HAMMER: I just want to say for all Americans, I appreciate that you letting us know what was going on there. Before I let you go, now that you`re on "Dancing with the Stars" and in all deference to our dear friend and star here at HLN, Nancy Grace, are you the one to beat?
CAVALLARI: Oh, gosh. I mean, I don`t know. I`m just taking it one dance at a time. And you know, there`s pretty stiff competition. There`s a lot of good dancers this season, so I don`t know. We`ll see, you know.
HAMMER: All right. Good luck. Good luck to you, Kristin. I appreciate you being here.
CAVALLARI: Thank you.
HAMMER: Kristin Cavallari, thank you so much.
CAVALLARI: Thank you.
HAMMER: I want to move on now to a little reality show secret not many people may not know about me. My guilty reality TV pleasure, any reality car show. I love them so I`m totally revved up about the fact that the "Carfellas" are here. I`m talking big cars, big guys with big reality (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know what your problem is? You buy with your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) instead of your head.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could do this on my own so I could have a nice pleasurable drive by myself instead of your bald (EXPLETIVE DELETED) busting my balls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes. And guess what? Those guys - they`re going to be busting on me. The "Carfellas" are right here for a turbo-charged SHOWBIZ newsmaker interview.
"Dancing with the Stars" pro Louis Van Amstel certainly knows a heck of a lot more than the chacha. He knows all about all the steamy romances between all the partners on that show. That`s why Louis has some of the red-hot rehearsal video and says it ends up on the cutting room floor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOUIS VAN AMSTEL, "DANCING WITH THE STARS" PROFESSIONAL DANCER: There`s a reason why it`s not on the air. It`s a little rated R. Anyway, let`s move on.
HAMMER: Wait. Hold on a second. What are you talking about?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Louis letting loose on the "Dancing" romances next. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, SHOWBIZ reality secrets, on HLN news and views.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY BONADUCE, REALITY TV STAR AND RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Don`t let the show be your bread and butter and then you won`t start doing what I did and that is trained seal act. And what can I do next to make the show bigger because it`s all I have?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excuse me. You took (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Say (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you`re sorry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on your side. Get on your side.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you know about (EXPLETIVE DELETED) etiquette?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are wrong, Mario. You are wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Hey, hands off my pizza. Hey, you want to buy a car? I`ve got some fellows who are selling. The stars of the hit new reality show "Carfellas" are right here, but are they going to kill each other or make nice? That`s what I want to know.
Welcome back to the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, SHOWBIZ reality secrets. I`m A.J. Hammer in New York.
Sell the car, leave the Cannoli. The stars of the brand-new reality show, "Carfellas," have made the big debut on Discovery Channel. And so far, so gumba.
With me right now, the stars of "Carfellas," is Mikey D. and Tommie, who approve of that line, by the way. They say they wouldn`t be offended if I said that. So thank you guys. Great to see you.
Great show. First of all, I don`t know what took reality TV so long to find you, guys, but I`m happy it did. And I`m watching your show and I`m thinking it looks like you guys want to kill each other.
You know, you guys are always pulling pranks on one another. You`re chasing each other down, making death threats. I hope you`re just kidding. But I want to take a look at some of what happens in action here. This is a scene between Mario and Tommie, and it`s just about a missing toy car. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mario, my car is right here. Where`s my car?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Car spot. It`s on the premises.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to make believe that you do have a slight problem.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He`s having a Cadillac (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You`re getting so upset over a freaking toy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look over here, please. Just admit what is over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to call the police and report a stolen vehicle?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Now, he`s dead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lock the door. Lock the door.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Open the door.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: All right. Tommie, that`s a lot of drama over a toy car. Can you please tell me if you were playing it up for the cameras, or what we see is what you get?
TOMMIE ROMOLA, REALITY TV STAR, "CARFELLAS": What you see is what you get. I had that car for 12 years. And to think that he was going to take it and do something with it, they`re were going to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) pinstriped up, I lost my mind.
HAMMER: So here`s the point with you, guys, because this is one of the reality show secrets. Everybody thinks that it`s all hyped up for the cameras. And in your case, we`re watching this and this is just life going on and the cameras happen to be rolling.
MIKEY D., REALITY TV STAR, "CARFELLAS": It`s as real as you can get and I mean that. You know what it is? There`s so much chemistry between me, him and Mario. And it`s just - that`s us. We`ve been doing this for years.
HAMMER: And that`s why I wondered why it took so long for the reality TV cameras to finally catch up with you. And Mikey, you know, it`s no secret that you did time in prison.
You did, if I have this right, three years on racketeering charges. And there are a lot of people who are getting into the TV world that would shy away from letting people know that. You know, they don`t want that kind of history, criminal record or anything like that, out there.
But it`s right there. It is in the show`s promos. You own it. Did the show`s producer say to you, "Yes, we want this on. We want people to know about it, or we`re not doing the show?"
MIKEY D.: No, they didn`t say that. But what they did say was they want us to be - Discovery is really in being real. They did not want us to be fake. They don`t want (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
So I just hope that - I`m like an open book. It is what it is. I did some things that I`m not proud of, you know. But you know something? You get past it and now my family is my priority. And you know, this what we`re doing.
HAMMER: Well, again, it gets back to real is real. And we know with some reality shows, that`s not necessarily the case. Look, I`m a car guy, so I love watching shows like yours.
And you`re in the business of selling and buying cars. We see you in one particular episode of "Carfellas" trying to buy a classic Cadillac.
And we get to hear your absolute final offer and we get to hear what the seller is offering you, which, I`m thinking, is a trade secret in your business. Let`s watch happens how that plays out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are a lot of flaws with this car. We have to get this car for $6,000 or less. What are you asking?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`m asking $7,500.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow. I mean -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It`s worth it. It`s worth it.
(CROSS TALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I`ve got to put a lot of money into this car. I think the car is worth probably about $4,000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you kidding me, man? No way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I went up to $4500, would you make a deal?
(CROSS TALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think I`m a charity case?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, don`t take it the wrong way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So why don`t you give me more money?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Yes, I think he was a little offended there. So are you guys at all worried that, you know, revealing trade secrets like this could hurt your business?
ROMOLA: Not really. I mean, they are not really trade secrets. You never want to pay what the person is asking. And anybody would do the same thing.
Somebody is asking one price. You want to pay lower. Sometimes, you don`t get the car. Sometimes, you do. You meet in the middle. The car is yours.
HAMMER: Well, again, bottom is, I love that your reality TV is really reality TV. And I love that you put it out there. It`s great to meet you both. Mikey D. and Tommie, thank you so much.
All right. You can catch "Carfellas" on the Discovery Channel. You want to check this out for sure.
Right now, we move on to the secrets of the hottest reality hook-ups on TV. And I`m not talking about them happening on the "Bachelor" or "Jersey Shore" or "Carfellas." Would that matter?
It`s "Dancing with the Stars." Yes, the show that`s a fave with your grandma also happens to be the show that launched some of the steamiest romances.
Now, think about it. You know all those bodies - they`re always pressed together for hours on end with all the practicing? Sparks are bound to fly, right?
Well, as Louis Van Amstel from "Dancing with the Stars" revealed to me, the real secret is that you can`t even imagine how fired up it can get in those rehearsals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VAN AMSTEL: There`s a reason why it`s not on the air. It`s a little rated R. Anyway, let`s move on.
HAMMER: Wait, hold on a second. What are you talking about? No, you`re not leaving with that.
VAN AMSTEL: When you dance - I mean, two people dancing together -
HAMMER: Yes.
VAN AMSTEL: You spend hours together. So of course, sometimes, there`s a flame that heats and, you know, sometimes that -
HAMMER: So it has happened?
VAN AMSTEL: It has happened. It`s so natural. It`s normal. It`s kind of fun to see if you have two people - last season there was a couple that I was hoping it would happen because they were so cute together. And to see them off camera, the same as on camera - it was just too cute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Too cute, indeed. By the way, four of the pro-dancers coupled up on that show. And that`s spawned two happy marriages.
We move on now to hot tubs, romantic rendezvous, and lots and lots of tears. All that makes for great TV every single season on the "Bachelor." But former contestant, Bob Guiney tells me what the real secret is that`s stirring up all that drama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB GUINEY, REALITY TV STAR: There`s definitely some moments that, when you watch it, you know, it can seem a little bit cheesy. During those moments, I think probably had those moments, too. That`s what I have to do right here? Are you serious?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Bob Guiney reveals all, next. This is a special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, SHOWBIZ reality secrets, on HLN`s news and views.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GUINEY: Sadly, I did not find love on "The Bachelorette." Chester(ph) did not choose my hand in marriage. But it`s also like metamorphosis, you know. That Bob is now meaner and meaner and looking for love.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I like Bob Guiney. He was really Mr. Nice Guy in the very first season of "The Bachelorette." That`s all the way back in 2003. Wow.
But now, Bob is ripping the lid off the secrets of the wildly successful franchise. Bob was such a fan favorite on "The Bachelorette," so he was invited to star in his own season of "The Bachelor."
For more than 15 seasons now, we have lived vicariously through all of the ups and downs of the dramatic romances and, of course, heartbreaking rose ceremony eliminations.
But Bob Guiney tells me there is a little trick that is often used to up the ante to get those emotions and hormones racing and that would be alcohol.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUINEY: They do produce romance very, very well on that show. I mean, they`re really - you know, you`re looking at all of these beautiful moments and, you know, attractive people meeting one another in romantic ways.
But then, there are also some things that I think are pretty interesting. You know, it`s always been interesting to me that, you know, even something as simple as ordering lunch.
And you know, you order lunch and then they also say, "Would you enjoy some beverages with your lunch?" And your beverages arrive a lot earlier than the food ever does.
And I think that impacts the way people that behave. And it definitely, you know, ups the ante as far as the pressure and as far as the feelings that they might have for these people.
But yes, there`s definitely moments that when you watch it, you know, it can seem a little bit cheesy. And now, looking back at it, I think that it`s all glorious and wonderful, of course. But during those moments, I think I probably had those moments, too. That`s what I have to do right here? Are serious?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: Well, after all the high-flying and sometimes alcohol-fueled reality TV fame, a lot of stars can`t or just don`t want to go back to their day jobs.
Some stars really seem to get on that reality treadmill popping up on show after show after show. But Bob tells me he actually feels lucky that he`s been able to maintain a normal life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUINEY: It`s very shocking to go back to normal life and I got very lucky, I think, because, ultimately, my normal life changed a little bit after the show.
I was given some great opportunities and, thankfully, I`ve been able to continue doing the things that I was hoping after that was, you know, a little blip on the radar.
I was hoping I was going to get to continue to do these type of things, and thankfully, I have. And for me, it was definitely a different experience. But you know, I do have some friends who went back to different types of normal existence.
And it was pretty difficult for them as well. I`ve got to say, honestly, I feel very lucky and very blessed to still be still given opportunities. And with my family and with my friends, it`s impossible to not remain humble because anytime I start acting like I`m too big for my breeches, they bring right back down to earth.
And I think that`s been a good thing for me. And that`s definitely been something that, you know, I`m going to take all the way through in my career.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMMER: I`ve got to say, Bob has always seemed to me to be such a nice and humble guy. So I agree with him, that would definitely take a long way in Hollywood.
Well, thank you for joining us for the special edition of SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m A.J. Hammer. Remember, you can always catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively, Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m. Eastern and Pacific. And of course, that`s right here on HLN. Have a great night.
END
